Spike and tie-plate.



J. F. CRAVEN.

SPIKE AND TIE PLATE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-7.1916.

1,224,607 PatentedMay 1, 1917.

v 4 naa WITNESSES JAMES F. CRAVEN, OF PITTSPURGI-I, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPIKE AND TIE-PLATE.

Application filed August 7, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. CRAVEN, a resident of Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Spikes and Tie-Plates, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to railroad rail fastoning means, and has for itsobject to more securely fasten the rails to wooden ties than by means ofthe ordinary vertically driven spikes. The invention comprises a spikedesigned to be driven in an inclined direction, together with means forguiding said spike while being driven to take an inclined direction toextend underneath the rail seat. The preferred form of such guidingmeans is an inclined wall of the hole through the tie plate throughwhich the spike is driven.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 1s a sectional View through arailroad rail and tie and a partial sectional view and a partial sideelevation of the tie plate illustrating the invention; Fig. 2 is a planview of the tie plate; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spike.

In the drawing, 1 represents an ordinary wooden tie and 2 a standardrailroad rail. 3 is a tie plate placed beneath the rail and seated onthe tie, said plate being provided on one side of the rail seat 4: witha rib or lug or lugs 5 against which one edge of the rail base 6 abuts,and is provided with a number of spike receiving holes 7 One or more ofthese holes are preferably formed on an incline through the plate, theincline extending in the direction underneath the rail base. Preferablyat least two of the holes in the plate, such as two diagonally locat-edholes will be so inclined, while if the plate has four holes the othertwo holes may be vertical, or if desired they also may be inclined. 8represents a spike, the same comprising a shank of the usual form andoverhanging head 9, which may be of the usual form but which preferablyis at a lesser angle to the shank than in standard spikes, so that whenthe spike is driven in an inclined position the overhanging part of saidhead will embrace and fit closely against the upper face 10 of the railbase.

This spike when driven through the hole 7 is guided by the inclined wall11 of said hole in an inclined direction downwardly and inwardly, thatis, underneath the rail seat. Consequently the sp1ke is not as easilySpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Serial No. 113,518.

withdrawn from the tie by the vibration of the rail, as if verticallydriven. The lifting stresses due to the springing of the rail can notact directly in line with the axis of the spike, but exert a pressurealong the upper inclined surface 12 of the spike, which is resisted bythe wood lying above the inclined shank of the spike, whereas sidewisepressure of the rail against the head of the spike merely tends tooscillate or rotate the spike about the point 14- and increases thefrictional hold of the spike against outward movement.

If desired the shank of the spike immediately below the head 9 may beprovided with a slight notch 15, forming a shoulder which, when thespike is driven fully in, engages beneath the edge of the rail base,thus further reducing the liability of the spike being pulled out orloosened in the tie.

Preferably one spike on each side of the rail will be driven in theinclined position, the spike 16 shown in dotted lines being a spikedriven in the same way on the opposite side of the rail; If four spikesare used in a tie plate all four may be driven in inclined positions, orif desired, only one on each side of the rail may be in such position,the

.other spikes being driven vertically in the ordinary way.

By insuring means for positively guiding the spike into inclinedposition the holding power of the spikes is greatly increased, andwithout increasing the cost of the spikes or tie plate or the labor ofdriving the spikes. The inclined holes can be readily punched throughthe tie plate and furnish positive guides for the spikes, and the spikesthemselves can be made in the ordinary way and by means of the usualmachinery for fabricating such spikes. The spike itself differs fromordinary spikes merely in the fact that the overhanging part of the headis formed at a lesser angle to the shank than in standard spikes, andthe shank is provided with the notch 15 immediately beneath the overhanging portion of the head, which notch can be formed by the forging orbending dies used for fabricating the spi e.

The same guiding principle can be used for other spikes or a doublespike such as shown in my application filed November 3, 1915, SerialNumber 59,895.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a tie plate provided with a holeadjacent the rail seat, said hole being arranged to guide a spike in aninwardly inclined direction, and a spike adapted to be driven throughsaid hole into the tie, and guided by said hole into an inwardlyinclined position.

2. In combination, a tie plate provided with a hole adjacent the railseat, said hole being arranged to guide a spike in an inwardly inclineddirection, and a spike adapted to be driven through said hole into thetie and guided by said hole into an inwardly inclined position, saidspike having an overhanging head at a lesser angle to the shank than instandard spikes.

3. In combination, a tie plate provided with a hole adjacent the railseat, said hole having an inclined wall, and a spike adapted to bedriven through said hole into the tie and guided by said inclined wallinto an inclined position.

4. In combination, a tie plate provided with a hole adjacent the railseat, said hole having an inclined wall, and a spike adapted to bedriven through said hole into the tie and guided by said inclined wallinto an inclined position, said spike having an overhanging head at alesser angle to the shank than in standard spikes.

5. In combination, a tie plate provided with a hole adjacent the railseat, said hole being inclined in a direction to extend underneath therail seat, and a spike adapted to be driven through said hole into thetie and guided by the inclined walls of said hole into an inclinedposition.

6. In combination, a tie plate provided with a hole adjacent the railseat, said hole being inclined in a direction to extend underneath therail seat, and a spike adapted to be driven through said hole into thetie and guided by the inclined walls of said hole into an inclinedposition, said spike having an overhanging head arranged at a lesserangle to the shank than in standard spikes.

7. In combination, a tie plate provided with a hole adjacent the railseat, said hole being inclined in a direction to extend underneath therail seat, and a spike adapted to be driven through said hole into thetie and guided by the inclined walls of said hole into an inclinedposition, said spike being provided on its shank below the head with ashoulder adapted to engage the rail base.

8. A railroad spike adapted to be driven into a tie provided with a headprojecting toward one side and at a lesser angle to the shank than instandard spikes.

9. A railroad spike provided with an overhanging head inclined towardthe shank on one side and with an upwardly facing shoulder on its shankbelow said head and on the side of the shank toward which the head isinclined.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES F. CRAVEN.

Witnesses:

GLENN H. Lnnnsonn, A. E. JOHNSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents,

- Washington, D. G.

